Interface and functionality

ColorOS is a lively user interface with many user-centric features.

At present, the Oppo R7 Plus runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which is technically the most up-to-date build of Android as version 6.0 Marshmallow isn't quite ready to launch. There's no word yet on whether an update to the latter is planned for the R7 Plus. Android is skinned with the ColorOS 2.1 interface, which we're okay with for the most part. Like most Chinese user interfaces of today, it borrows design bits from Apple's iOS. The familiarities are evident in aspects foreign to Android, such as the lack of an app drawer. We also find a very iOS-like camera app and a horizontal card-based app switching menu.

Image: 1 of 8

While the UI is reminiscent of iOS, we're noticing an attempt to preserve and promote Android's customization spirit. An example of that is the Theme Store with pre-made themes to spice up your lockscreen and homescreen with new sets of icons and backgrounds. Unfortunately, it has been a long while since new themes have been published, so despite having plenty of them on offer, the place seems abandoned. But if you don't want to download pre-made themes, just hit Personalize, and you'll be presented a weekly-updated gallery of wallpapers in all sorts of categories. There are also some lockscreen themes to enjoy as well, but overall, Oppo needs to inject more life in the Theme store.

Oppo's stock apps and menus look simplistic, and they don't compromise functionality or user pleasantries. Oppo has seemingly rebuilt almost each app from the ground-up, presenting fresh, yet not "all sorts of better" takes on AOSP and Google apps such as Contacts, Email, Calendar, Clock, Calculator, Files, and anything in between. There is also a built-in performance optimization app called Security Center. It is reasonably competent for a stock app, and it could easily take care of your system clean-up and maintenance needs, unless you favor a specific application or look after “power user” functionality.

While the screen is turned off, one can double-tap on it to wake the phone up, draw an O to start the camera app, or control music playback. Thankfully, these work quite reliably! Also, with the screen on, you can take a screenshot using three fingers, use two fingers to adjust the volume, double tap the display to lock the screen, activate the camera with a finger gesture, and swipe from the bottom left/right to launch or exit apps. These gestures work well too, and are actually pretty cool, but it's up to you to decide whether they'll become essential functionality. And while we're at it, one can also set specific hours where the smartphone will power on or power off.

A notable addition is fingerprint security. After taking a reading of your unique finger pattern, you can use that to unlock the smartphone and open locked applications. Again, the fingerprint scanner on the R7 Plus isn't the most seamless one we've pressed an index finger against. Sometimes it works just fine, but in some cases, it might require two to three tries to register your input.

Processor and memory

Solid processing, but bad graphics performance and some UI stutter.

The Oppo R7 Plus sports the same hardware configuration as the smaller R7 before it. We're talking of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 SoC (octa-core 1.5GHz CPU, Adreno 405 GPU) and an ample 3 gigabytes of RAM. Oppo is providing you with 32GB of internal storage, which you're able to increase via a microSD card, provided you don't want to take advantage of the dual-SIM functionality. You'd be left with about 23GB of usable storage space, and whatever your preferred cloud service may have in store.

In performance benchmarks, the Oppo R7 Plus performs identically to the Oppo R7, giving out solid processing scores, but bad 3D graphics performance. The phablet can handle casual titles and most 3D games, but don't expect smooth frame rates in really advanced stuff, such as Gameloft's Asphalt 8 and Modern Warfare. In general, the R7 Plus is competent at handling the essential everyday tasks. Applications generally start fast and we didn't experience any random reboots, crashes, or RAM management problems. However, we must note that the user interface is prone to some lag and stutter — nothing outrageous, but you might be annoyed at times.

Internet and connectivity

Competent enough for reliable browsing, but a B+ experience overall.

The Oppo R7 Plus is 4G LTE Cat. 4-capable, and works with the essential GSM, UMTS, and FDD/TDD LTE spectrums thanks to its Qualcomm modem. Therefore, chances are you won't find yourself out of range in most parts of the world. The Oppo R7 Plus is also a dual-SIM device, but with a catch. The SIM slot can house either a microSD card and a single Nano SIM or up to two Nano SIM cards simultaneously. Additionally, the Oppo R7 Plus supports HSDPA+ (4G) 21.1 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s, EDGE, and GPRS connectivity. Of course, it also has built-in GPS.

The stock Oppo browser is competent enough for reliable browsing. It's got typical options, such as choosing a default search engine and adding favorites, along with stuff like traceless browsing, No Picture and Night modes, and a built-in download manager. However, the browser is a bit sluggish while displaying and scrolling pages. It's nothing too terrible, as the browser is still useful — just not very, shall we say, exciting. Chrome, which is available from the orderly Google apps folder, tends to be a bit faster, but not incredibly so. Overall, browsing on the Oppo R7 Plus is a B+ experience, although that fine 6-inch display does a great job massaging all that lovely content into your retinas.

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Posts: 981; Member since: Jul 07, 2014

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 3:03 AM 2

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

I lost faith in PA reviews totally. That's why now I refer other tech sites to check reviews and scores. Whenever others (my office colleagues / friends) ask or check your scores then everybody laughs at you.
Take a lesson PA. Don't be just a news site. Have a proper review system otherwise the results for your site review would be not good.

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 5:15 AM 9

posted on Oct 02, 2015, 4:05 AM 2

Posts: 1236; Member since: Sep 26, 2012

PA This is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!
And Luis D you give this phone a 5? A 5!??
Just the specs alone warranty a minimum socre of 6 or 6.5 considering current hardware available on the market.
Man i didn't want to believe it but yeah PA is paid off (no names here). Over the past month PA has killed every Android phone out there especially the ones from China. Hey PA Even iPhone is Made in China! LOL!

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 3:05 AM 16

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

let me guess..
xpure will get 7 because it doesnt use the fastest processor available, and no so amazing battery life
both new nexus will get 8 because lack of wireless charging, no ois, bed design..
but in my honest opinion, if i6s get 9.3 then X pure deserve to get at least 9/10, and at least 10.3/10 for nexus 6p

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 4:27 AM 3

Posts: 539; Member since: Jun 05, 2015

Just read "[w]hile it may not have the iPhone 6's precise contours..." and immediately stopped reading because I just lost interests in what they had to say about the phone - I wonder how much my phone would get.

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 4:41 AM 0

Posts: 448; Member since: Feb 12, 2014

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 3:10 AM 20

Posts: 6873; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Exactly.
Not hating on the iPhone, but if you're gonna give it 9.3, there is no way this thing is a 5!!
I ve watched bunch of other reviews, and while they all admitted there are some minor flaws here and there, it is still a great phone.

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 4:45 AM 2

Posts: 6873; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Exactly.
Not hating on the iPhone, but if you're gonna give it 9.3, there is no way this thing is a 5!!
I ve watched bunch of other reviews, and while they all admitted there are some minor flaws here and there, it is still a great phone.

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 3:16 AM 15

Posts: 183; Member since: Feb 13, 2013

I just realise when PA reviewed the iPhone 6S plus, they said 192 gram iPhone feels sturdy but when they reviewed the Oppo R7 plus who has 6" and same weight as the iPhone they suddenly feels "heavy"!!!! And they said the full HD on the iPhone seems "more than enough" but when they reviewed other phones suddenly "not as sharp as QHD"

posted on Oct 02, 2015, 4:10 AM 0

Posts: 1090; Member since: Feb 24, 2014

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 3:31 AM 4

Posts: 243; Member since: Oct 01, 2015

Well honestly PhoneArena, I got nothing agianst you scoring iPhone 6s 9.3, but a 5 for this R-7 Plus is just too rude. It at least deserves a 6.2-6.5 for the sole battery, and the rest of the phone design and other features could easily take it to a 7-7.5.

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 3:53 AM 10

Posts: 53; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 3:51 AM 11

Posts: 949; Member since: Oct 31, 2013

A 5 for those cons? WTH are with these stupid reviews lately. I am starting to realize I only check phonearena for the news, not the reviews anymore. Completely disappointed with the site now. Shame on you.

Posts: 518; Member since: May 03, 2014

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 4:18 AM 8

Posts: 1009; Member since: Feb 20, 2015

That review on AA is anything but review. At best it's a walk through that reminds me an advertisement alike style praise them all going thing on AA. How this be on the par with S6 or how can it beat mcuh cheaper MotoX Pure addition but a very solid device given price tag. AA is a bag of Bulls**t in my opinion.

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 1:15 PM 0

Posts: 256; Member since: Sep 21, 2014

True that if the phone is below par on it's main function which is to perform well also with the graphics if it has such a large screen, then the main function of the phone is kinda worthless. But you have to admit that the battery life is great. Yeah I know it's also great on the Nokia 3310.

posted on Oct 01, 2015, 4:25 AM 1

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